Testing apparatus



June 15, 1943. H. PERSSON TESTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

m d@ @a/f O t A June 15, 1943. H. PERssON 2,321,769

TESTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 51, 1941 '2 SheebS-Shee'l 2 i* INVENTOR.

Patented June l5, 1943 UNiTEDsTATEs PATENT OFFICE TESTING APPARATUS Henry Persson, Bloomfield, N. J.

Application December 31, 1941, Serial No. 425,173

(Cl. 'Z3-51) 8 Glaims.

This invention relates to improvements in testing apparatus adapted for various testing operations and more particularly for testing the fuze mechanisms of shells, projectiles and the like.

Fuze mechanisms are usually provided with bore safe devices; that is, devices associated with the fuze or associated parts thereof to prevent operation of the fuze until the shell or projectile has left the muzzle of the piece in which it is fired.

A common type of bore safe device includes a part or parts that is moved or thrown outwardv 1y by centrifugal force by rotation of the projectile or shell carrying the fuze after the fuzed shell or projectile has left the muzzle.

The shell or projectile, due to rifling of the barrel, is caused to rotate while passing therethrough so as to rotate considerably faster after leaving the muzzle. The centrifugal force due to rotation of the fused projectile in flight moves the part or parts before mentioned so that the fuze is said to be "armed for functioning whereas while passing through the barrel it is not so armed.

The objects of this invention are concerned with the provision of an apparatus for rotating a fuze or fuze part, with which is associated a part that is movable by centrifugal action, so as to cause the said part to be moved to armed position.

The fuze or fuze part is rotated by the testing device at a speed approximating that at which the projectile rotates after leaving the bore of the barrel and the movement of the movable part is observed. If the part is not moved at or near some predetermined speed of rotation it can be taken for granted that the device is defective.

According to the invention, a plurality of devices ma-y be tested simultaneously so as to facilitate speed of production and economy in operation.

The apparatus may be adapted for testing various forms of fuzes and other devices and it is not desired therefor to be limited to the particular form disclosed.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side elevational views of a fuze device having a radially movable part which, when in one position, arms the fuze;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational View through the testing device of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Fi 3; i

ig. 5 is a sectional elevational View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a receiver for rotating the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a testing machine embodying the novel features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

First there will be described one form of a fuze device having a part movable to armed position by centrifugal action although the apparatus is adapted for use with various and numerous other forms.

A part 2 which ts in the base of a fuze has a slide 4 guided for back and forth movements by guides 6. A spring 8 around a pin I0 has one end against a pin i2 and its other end in a hole of the slide to urge the slide to the left, all as shown.

This slide 4 is shown in unarmed position and when the parts are assembled with the fuze in a shell or projectile the rotation thereof causes the slide to move to the right in Fig. 1 or outwardly so that an aperture I4 thereof is disposed substantially centrally of part 2 and over an opening therein, not shown. These openings may form part of a powder train but the important consideration is that the slide moves as stated to armed position and the machine of the invention is adapted to rotateI the parts to determine whether the slide functions or moves to armed position at or near a predetermined speed of rotation or the rotative speed of the projectile in flight.

A pair of latches l 5 have their inner ends loosely received in slots of the slide as shown. They are held against inward movements by posts I8 which engage their outer ends as shown. As the slide moves outwardly to armed position, the ends of the latches withdraw from the slots. Being then loose so as to move, their outer ends engage the inner side of the part into which the part 2 screws and their inner ends abut the end of slide 4 and prevent movement thereof to the nonarmed position shown.

A receptacle or receiver 2E) is provided which receives the fuze device as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and it may have a post 22 for entering a recess in the bottom of the device. A closure 24 is provided which has a part 2t for receiving the upper end of the fuze device. Studs 28 of the receptacle have reduced portions 3Q and the closure has openings 32 to receive these studs 28. Slots 34 extend from the holes 32 and terminate in seats and in which the upper ends of the bolts may rest, as shown in Fig. 5.

A spring 36 is provided in the receptacle to urge the fuze device upwardly.

l'n operation the fuze device 2 is placed in the receptacle against the spring and the closure 24 on top of the said device 2 is urged downwardly by pressing on the closure with the bolts passing through the openings 32. Then the closure is turned until the heads of the bolts are in the seats. The spring acting on the fuze device causes the closure to be urged upwardly thus the parts are releasably locked together and the fuze device is releasably held in the receiver.

When the receptacle is rotated at such a speed as will cause the slide 4 of the fuze device to move to armed position the opening I4 thereof becomes substantially centrally disposed and an opening in the closure is provided through which the opening I 4 is visible. It is intended to rotatel the receptacle at a speed representing that at which the projectile carrying the fuze rotates after leaving the muzzle. When rotating at such a speed the slide in an acceptable fuze device will move to carry the opening 14 into register with opening 25. Should the slide not function, the fuze device is defective. Thus the fuze device is readily and quickly tested and successive fuze devices may be readily associated with the receptacle by simply removing the closure.

Thus by rotating the receiver carrying the fuze device at some predetermined speed, it is possible to determine whether the slide will move to armed position and therefore whether the device is acceptable.

The receiver may 'be rotated by various means but according to the invention, it is rotated by a rotator and there are a plurality of rotators so that plural fuze devices may be tested simultaneously.

A rotator is represented by 4@ which is hollowed out to receive the receiver 2D. The receiver has one or more pins 42 that are receivable in slots 44 extending downwardly from the upper edge of the rotator and that terminate in sockets as shown in Fig. 6.

A spring 45 in the rotator urges the receiver upwardly so that with pins 42 in the sockets the receiver is releasably held in the rotator. The rotator has a shaft 48 for rotatably supporting the same.

There may be any number of rotators and receivers as shown in Fig. '7 wherein a panel 50 is associated with upper and side walls 52 and 54.

Bearing members 5S rotatably support the shafts 48 of the rotators for rotation and the rear ends of said shafts behind the panel are operatively connected to a suitable source of power.

A variable speed motor is preferably the source of power and carries a V pulley or pulleys on its shaft connected by V belts to pulleys on shafts 48 so that the rotators are simultaneously rotated. There will be a controller for controlling the speed of the motor and it is operated by a crank 58 secured to the shaft ti? thereof. A disc E2 supported by legs 54 extending upwardly from a table 66 is provided so that by means of a friction device E58 carried by the lever the controller lever is frictionally held in various positions of adjustment.

A speed indicator 'I0 is provided that is operated by the motor or the belts to indicate the rotative speed of the rotators.

The motor, controller and driving mechanism is preferably disposed at the rear of panel 5D; it may take various forms as may be required all within the skill of one skilled in the art to construct.

The receivers 20 are removed from the rotators by pressing them inwardly against the springs 4S and turning them so that the pins 42 may pass outwardly through the slots 44 in the rotators.

The receivers are placed on the table 66 and the closures are pressed downwardly and turned so that they are released by the studs 28. Then they may be removed to facilitate removal of the fuze device.

With the fuze devices in the receivers and with the receivers in the rotators the latter may be rotated at any desired speed. Ordinarily the rotators will be rotated at such a speed as will cause the slides to be moved to armed position. The speed indicator will indicate the speed of the rotators and if the slides are moved to armed position 'at a speed corresponding to that at which the projectile rotates in its night from the muzzle, it may be considered that the fuze device is acceptable for the intended purpose.

The invention may Ibe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein',

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States ist 1. The combination in apparatus for testing by rotation a fuze device having an arming mem'- ber radially movable by'rotation, of a rotatable receiver for a fuze device, a closure for overlying a fuze device in the receiver having an openingl on the axis of rotation of the receiver through which the arming member thereof is visible, means to rotate said receiver, and releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure.

2. The combination in apparatus for testing by rotation a fuze device having Yan arming member radially movable by rotation, of a rotatable receiver for a fuze device having spring means for supporting a fuze, a closure for overlying a fuze device in the receiver having an opening on the axis of rotation of the receiver through which the arming member thereof is visible, means to rotate said receiver, and releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure holding the closure against the fuze device so that it bears on said spring means.

3. The combination in apparatus for testing by rotation a fuze device having an arming member radially movable by rotation, of a rotatable receiver for a fuze device having a recess in which the device may be seated, means to rotate said receiver, a closure for Voverlying a fuze device in the receiver having an opening on the axis of rotation of the receiver through which the arming member thereof is visible, spring means for yieldingly supporting a fuze device in the receiver, and releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure.

4. The combination in apparatus for testing by rotation a iuZe device having an arming mem'- ber radially movable by rotation, of a receiver for a fuze device having a recess in which thc device may be seated, means to rotate said receiver, a closure for overlying a fuze device in the receiver having an opening on the ei rotation of the receiver through which the arinm ing member thereof is visible, spring means for yieldingly supporting a fuze device in the receiver, and releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and. closure.

5. The combination in apparatus for testing' by rotation a fuze device having an arming member radially movable by rotation, of a receiver for a iuze device, a closure for overlying a fuse device in the receiver having an opening on the axis of rotation of the receiver through which the arming member thereof is visible, releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure, a rotator for said receiver, and releasable engaging means associated With said rotator and receiver for releasably securing them together.

6. The combination in apparatus for testing by rotation a fuze device having an arming member radially movable by rotation, of a receiver for a fuze device, a. closure for overlying a fuze device in the receiver having an opening on the axis of rotation of the receiver through which the arming member thereof is visible, releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure, a rotator for said receiver having a recess in which the receiver may be seated, and releasable engaging means associated with said rotator and receiver for releasably securing them together.

'7. The combination in apparatus for testing -by rotation a fuze device having an arming member radially movable by rotation, of a receiver for a fuze device, a closure for overlying a iuZe device in the receiver having an opening on the axis of rotation of the receiver thro-ugh which the arming member thereof is visible, releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure, a rotator for said receiver having a recess in which the receiver may be seated, releasable engaging means associated with said rotator and receiver for releasably securing them together, and spring means yieldingly supporte ing the receiver in the rotator to act on the engaging means.

8. The combination in apparatus for testing by rotation a fuze device having an arming member radially movable by rotation, of a receiver for a iuze device, a closure for overlying a fuze device in the receiver having an opening on the axis of rotation of the receiver through which the arming member thereof is visible, spring means for yieldingly supporting a fuze device in the receiver, releasable engaging means associated with said receiver and closure holding the closure against the fuze device so that it bears on said spring means, a rotator for said receiver having a recess in which the receiver may be seated, releasable engaging means associated with said rotator and receiver for releasably securing them together, and spring means yieldingly supporting the receiver in the rotator to act on the engaging means.

HENRY PERSSON. 

